Labour candidate Dave Watts comfortably held on to the seat, polling 13,101 votes more than his nearest rival.

However, even this was down on his previous majority of 22,329 more votes.

He said: “On the doorstep we’ve done reasonably well, but I would expect after 13 years a reduction in my majority.

“A reduced majority is what happens after 13 years in power, especially with the economic crisis we’ve just gone through.”

Turn-out for the St Helens North election was 59.8%, an increase from around 55% in the 2005 general election.

Tory candidate Paul Greenall, who was fighting his first parliamentary election, finished a credible second, albeit a long way behind the sitting Labour MP.

Mr Greenall said: "We knew it was going to be a hard battle, but we have taken the Conservative campaign into estates and into areas where we haven't been for a long time by leafleting and door-knocking.

"We had a positive response from people, especially towards the end of the campaign."

John Beirne, who fought the seat for the Liberal Democrats, said: “When I first started, we were told we’d never do anything in St Helens, but it can be achieved. It’s just a long struggle for us.”